Lobelia plant named ‘WNLOLASKBL’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Lobelia plant named ‘WNLOLASKBL’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and mounding to trailing plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy plant form; freely flowering habit; long flowering period; purplish blue-colored flowers; and relative high temperature tolerance and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Lobelia erinus.

Cultivar denomination: ‘WNLOLASKBL’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lobelia plant, botanically known as Lobelia erinus and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘WNLOLASKBL’.

The new Lobelia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Alajuela, Costa Rica and Carleton, Mich. The objective of the breeding program is to create new outwardly spreading, freely-branching and bushy Lobelia plants with a long flowering period, high temperature tolerance and good garden performance.

The new Lobelia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Alajuela, Costa Rica in November, 2016 of Lobelia erinus ‘Lobtrawi’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,216, as the female, or seed, parent with Lobelia erinus ‘Weslosnowhi’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Lobelia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Carleton, Mich. on Nov. 1, 2017.

Asexual reproduction of the Lobelia plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in Carleton, Mich. since Nov. 15, 2017 has shown that the unique features of this new Lobelia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Lobelia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘WNLOLASKBL’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘WNLOLASKBL’ as a new and distinct Lobelia plant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading and mounding to trailing plant         habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy plant form.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Long flowering period.     -   6. Purplish blue-colored flowers.     -   7. Relative high temperature tolerance and good garden         performance.

Plants of the new Lobelia differ primarily from plants of the female, parent, ‘Lobtrawi’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lobelia are more high temperature tolerant         than plants of ‘Lobtrawi’.     -   2. Plants of the new Lobelia and ‘Lobtrawi’ differ in flower         color as plants of the new Lobelia have purplish blue-colored         flowers whereas plants of ‘Lobtrawi’ have white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Lobelia differ primarily from plants of the male, parent, ‘Weslosnowhi’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lobelia are more vigorous than and not as         compact as plants of ‘Weslosnowhi’.     -   2. Plants of the new Lobelia and ‘Weslosnowhi’ differ in flower         color as plants of the new Lobelia have purplish blue-colored         flowers whereas plants of ‘Weslosnowhi’ have white-colored         flowers.

Plants of the new Lobelia can be compared to plants of Lobelia erinus ‘Loboudtis’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,526. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Lobelia differ primarily from plants of ‘Loboudtis’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lobelia are more freely flowering than         plants of ‘Loboudtis’.     -   2. Plants of the new Lobelia have larger flowers than plants of         ‘Loboudtis’.     -   3. Plants of the new Lobelia flower more freely and for a longer         period of time under high temperature conditions than plants of         ‘Loboudtis’.

Plants of the new Lobelia can also be compared to plants of Lobelia erinus ‘Tech Helitbule’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,067. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Lobelia differ primarily from plants of ‘Tech Helitbule’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lobelia are more trailing than plants of         ‘Tech Helitbule’.     -   2. Plants of the new Lobelia have larger flowers than plants of         ‘Tech Helitbule’.     -   3. Plants of the new Lobelia flower more freely under high         temperature conditions than plants of ‘Tech Helitbule’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Lobelia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Lobelia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 2) comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘WNLOLASKBL’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 of 2) is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘WNLOLASKBL’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the autumn and winter in 10.8-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Loudon N.H. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Lobelia production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 19° C. Plants were pinched three weeks after planting and were nine weeks from planting rooted cuttings when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Lobelia erinus ‘WNLOLASKBL’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Lobelia erinus ‘Lobtrawi’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,216.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Lobelia erinus ‘Weslosnowhi’, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven days at soil             temperatures about 21° C. to 24° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About ten days at soil             temperatures about 18° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four             weeks at soil temperatures about 21° C. to 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About five             weeks at soil temperatures about 16° C. to 18° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,             substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading and             mounding to trailing plant habit; freely branching habit             with lateral branches developing at potentially every node;             dense and bushy plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid             growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 17 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 35 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 20 cm. Diameter:             About 3 mm. Internode length: About 1 cm. Strength: Strong,             flexible. Aspect: Upright to outwardly spreading. Texture:             Fine pubescence, dense. Color: Close to between 144A and             146A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Length.—About 3.1 cm.         -   Width.—About 2.9 cm.         -   Shape.—Broadly ovate.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Cuneate with truncate tendencies.         -   Margin.—Crenate; moderately undulate.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Fine             pubescence; slightly glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: More green than             146A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146A to             146B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A;             venation, close to between 146A and 147A. Fully expanded             leaves, lower surface: Close to 146A heavily overlain with             close to 187A; venation, similar to lamina.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Texture and luster: Fine pubescence; slightly glossy. Color,             upper surface: Close to 146A; proximally, close to 144A.             Color, lower surface: Close to 144A to 144B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement, habit and shape.—Flowers typically             arranged in terminal and lateral racemes; flowers face             mostly outwardly; freely flowering habit with about seven to             ten flowers per inflorescence and multiple inflorescences             developing during the flowering season; flowers bilabiate             with two upper petals and three larger lower petals.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—In New Hampshire, plants of the             new Lobelia flower continuously from planting in the spring             until frost in the autumn; early flowering habit, plants             begin flowering about three to four weeks after planting.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—Longevity of individual             flowers is highly dependent on temperature, flowers             typically last about 10 to 14 days on the plant; flowers             persistent.         -   Inflorescence length.—About 9 cm to 12 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 3 cm to 5 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2 cm by 1.75 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 2 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 4 mm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 1 cm.         -   Flower tube diameter, distally.—About 5 mm.         -   Flower tube diameter, proximally.—About 2.5 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 7.5 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Shape: Columnar. Color: Close to 145A.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five petals fused             towards the base; two upper petals and three larger lower             petals. Upper petals: Length, beyond throat: About 9 mm.             Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex: Acute to             cuspidate. Margin: Entire; not undulate. Texture and luster,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Lower             petals: Length, beyond throat: About 1 cm. Width: About             7.5 mm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Cuspidate. Margin: Entire; not             undulate. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, upper and lower petals: When             opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 96B to             96C; venation, close to 96A to 96B; with development, color             becoming closer to 96D. When opening and fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 97B; venation, close to 97B; with             development, color becoming closer to 97C. Color, throat,             upper petals: Close to 97C. Color, throat, lower petals:             Close to 97C; chevrons, close to 96A; nectar guides, close             to 2D. Color, tube, upper and lower petals: Close to 97B to             97C.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five sepals, fused at             the base; star-shaped calyx. Length: About 9 mm. Width:             About 1 mm. Shape: Acicular. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire;             not undulate. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 146A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: Less than 1 mm.             Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture and luster: Smooth,             glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.             Filament length: About 4.5 mm. Filament color: Close to 97A.             Anther size: About 0.5 mm by 2 mm. Anther shape: Oblong.             Anther color: Close to N187B. Pollen amount: None observed.             Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About             8 mm. Stigma shape: Globose. Stigma color: Close to N187A.             Style color: Close to 144A to 144B. Ovary color: Close to             144A.         -   Fruits and seeds.—To date, fruit and seed development have             not been observed on plants of the new Lobelia. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Lobelia have     not been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Lobelia plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Lobelia have been observed to     have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and to be     relatively tolerant to high temperature conditions. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Lobelia plant named ‘WNLOLASKBL’ as illustrated and described. 